Ditch The Labcoat

Welcome to this episode of Ditch the Lab Coat , hosted by Dr. Mark Bonta—a show where curiosity meets science and skepticism, all in the name of practical healthcare innovation. This week, we tackle a problem plaguing healthcare systems across Canada (and beyond): the painfully long wait times to see a dermatologist, especially when it comes to skin cancer. Our guest is Mike Druhan, President of D...

Welcome back to Ditch the Lab Coat! In this episode, host Dr. Mark Bonta sits down with Dr. William Cherniak, an emergency physician, global health leader, and CEO of Rocket Doctor—a Canadian tech company on a mission to shake up how we access healthcare. As the world continues to grapple with the lessons learned from COVID-19, Dr. Cherniak and Dr. Bonta dive deep into the evolution of virtual car...

Welcome back to Ditch the Labcoat. Today’s episode dives deep into a topic that’s been quietly reshaping lives and families across the globe: gambling addiction. Host Dr. Mark Bonta sits down with Dr. Daniela Lobo, a leading expert in addiction psychiatry, to explore just how dramatically gambling—especially online and sports betting—has surged in prevalence, fueled by intensive marketing and made...

This week on Ditch the Labcoat , Dr. Mark Bonta sits down with Dr. Diana Driscoll, an optometrist, researcher, and internationally recognized authority on the autonomic nervous system—who also happens to be one of the rare non-MDs to join the show.  After her own sudden and life-altering health collapse, Dr. Driscoll found herself deep in the world of dysautonomia—a group of disorders affecting th...

Welcome back to Ditch the Labcoat with Dr. Mark Bonta! In this episode, we dive into the world of burnout—what it really looks like, how it creeps into even the most resilient among us, and, most importantly, what we can do to prevent it. Dr. Mark sits down with Dr. Judy Wright, a physician, performance strategist, burnout survivor, and the founder of JW Health Consulting.  Dr. Wright brings a uni...

Welcome back to Ditch the Lab Coat with Dr. Mark Bonta—a podcast where we cut through health hype with evidence, curiosity, and a good dose of scientific skepticism. In this special solo episode, Dr. Bonta takes a step back to reflect on what he’s learned after recording over 70 episodes with experts across medicine, wellness, and psychology. Instead of chasing the latest biohacks and trendy do’s,...

Welcome back to Ditch the Labcoat! In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Mark Bonta sits down with Kali Dayton, nurse practitioner, international consultant, and the bold voice behind the Awake and Walking ICU movement. Together, they peel back the curtain on a common but rarely questioned practice in critical care: routine heavy sedation of patients on ventilators. Kali shares her journey from a...

On this episode of Ditch the Lab Coat , Dr. Mark Bonta sits down with Dr. Georg Haymerle—once a top head and neck surgeon in Europe and Australia, now a dedicated advocate for culture change in medicine. Georg’s journey is anything but typical: after reaching the pinnacle of surgical mastery, he made the radical decision to walk away—not because of burnout or failure, but to confront the invisible...

Welcome back to Ditch the Lab Coat, the podcast where we break down the fascinating world of medicine with a blend of scientific skepticism and real-world insight. In today’s episode, we dive deep into the mysteries of the vagus nerve—a nerve so ancient and essential, it’s been called the “conductor” in the symphony of human physiology. Join host Dr. Mark Bonta as he sits down with Dr. Kevin Trace...

Welcome back to another episode of Ditch the Labcoat! This week, Dr. Mark Bonta is joined once again by the ever-insightful Dr. Dante Morra—innovator, internal medicine specialist, and the driving force behind the Can Health Network. In this wide-ranging conversation, they pull back the curtain on the current state and future of Canadian healthcare, tackling everything from the rise of AI-driven v...

Welcome back to Ditch the Labcoat, the show where we challenge assumptions in medicine and seek out the systems, stories, and science that truly shape healthcare. In today’s episode, we’re joined by Martin Bromiley: airline captain, human factors champion, and founder of the Clinical Human Factors Group. But before he became a global advocate for patient safety, Martin faced unimaginable tragedy w...

In this episode of Ditch the Lab Coat, Dr. Mark Bonta sits down with Dr. Marie Claire Bourque, a psychiatrist, executive coach, and mental performance consultant to elite athletes, including the Toronto Maple Leafs. Together, they dive into the world of high performance under pressure, uncovering what medicine can learn from the mental training of professional athletes. Dr. Bourque shares her insi...

Welcome back to Ditch the Labcoat, the podcast where we cut through the noise and myths swirling around modern healthcare—one evidence-based conversation at a time. I’m Dr. Mark Bonta, and in today’s episode, get ready to hear from one of our returning guests: Dr. Samira Jeimy, allergist, immunologist, associate professor, and the straight-talking force behind Allergies Explained. Dr. Jeimy is her...

In this episode of Ditch the Lab Coat, Dr. Mark Bonta sits down with Dr. Dov Gebien for a deeply personal and raw conversation about addiction, stigma, and redemption within the medical profession.  Dr. Gebien, an emergency physician, shares his courageous story of opioid addiction—tracing his journey from the initial dependency that crept in after multiple back surgeries, through the devastating...

Welcome back to another eye-opening episode of Ditch the Lab Coat with Dr. Mark Bonta! While we usually dig into the science behind medicine’s biggest questions, on this episode, Dr. Mark is joined by the extraordinary Dr. Erwin Loh — a powerhouse at the intersection of medicine, law, healthcare leadership, and medical futurology.  Dr. Loh is not only the President of the Royal Australasian Colleg...

Welcome back to another eye-opening episode of Ditch the Lab Coat with Dr. Mark Bonta! While we usually dig into the science behind medicine’s biggest questions, this week we’re tackling the latest health fads and “wellness” trends lighting up your social feeds—from infrared saunas and cold plunges to mouth taping and chlorophyll water. Joining Mark is Dr. Samir Gupta, a leading Canadian health co...

Welcome to a brand new episode of Ditch the Lab Coat with Dr. Mark Bonta! Normally, we dig deep into medical mysteries and healthcare headlines, but today we’re taking a high-flying detour into the world of extreme movement and gravity-defying stunts.  In this episode, Mark sits down with internationally renowned parkour athlete, free runner, stunt performer, and Ninja Warrior UK finalist, Joe Sca...

In today’s episode, Dr. Mark Bonta sits down with Dr. Sasha High—internist, obesity medicine specialist, founder of High Metabolic Clinic, and host of the High on Life podcast —to take a fresh, science-based look at weight management, obesity, and why sticking to those well-intentioned New Year’s resolutions isn’t just about willpower. Dr. High pulls back the curtain on one of the most stubborn mi...

In this episode of Ditch the Lab Coat, Dr. Mark Bonta is joined by Dr. Robert C. Smith, University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Psychiatry at Michigan State University, to tackle one of modern healthcare’s biggest blind spots: mental health care in the medical system. Dr. Smith—renowned educator, author, and advocate—pulls back the curtain on how, despite mental health problems...

In this episode of Ditch the Lab Coat, Dr. Mark Bonta takes us into the underappreciated world of medical documentation—and the burnout it breeds—by shining a spotlight on two disruptors aiming to change the status quo. Joined by Dr. Kyle Fortinsky, a gastroenterologist and self-proclaimed tech enthusiast, and serial entrepreneur Jay Gilbert, the discussion pulls back the curtain on the all-too-fa...

In today's episode of Ditch the Lab Coat, we dive into the raw, real-world chaos of trauma that unfolds beyond the controlled environment of a hospital. Dr. Mark Bonta is joined by Dr. Andrew Petrosoniak, a trauma director and emergency medicine expert who specializes in designing effective healthcare systems, to explore the unpredictable nature of street-level emergencies. Throughout the episode,...

In today's episode of Ditch the Lab Coat, we're delving into the often overlooked world of long Covid and post-viral syndromes . Ever wondered why the medical community wasn't fully prepared for the enduring effects of post-viral conditions despite its potential impact? Dr. Mark Bonta talks with Dr. Funmi Okunola, a family physician and advocate for patients with Long Covid. Dr. Okunola discusses...

Today, we're diving into the captivating world where cardiology meets cutting-edge technology. Ever wondered how your smartwatch could potentially save your life or how wearable tech is revolutionizing heart rhythm monitoring? You're in for a treat!  Joining us is Dr. Yaariv Khaykin, an internationally renowned expert in rhythm disorders. He's a self-proclaimed "heart electrician" with a knack for...

In this episode of "Ditch the Lab Coat, where we delve into health issues with a grounded, scientifically skeptical eye.  Today, we're diving deep into the world of cholesterol science and statins with our special guest, Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, an acclaimed skeptic and thought provoker in the medical community.  Dr. Kendrick, known for turning conventional wisdom on its head, will be sharing his ins...

In this episode of "Ditch the Lab Coat, where we delve into health issues with a grounded, scientifically skeptical eye.  This week's conversation is truly special as we sit down with two giants in the field of medicine: Dr. David Carr and Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti. Join us as we unpack the essentials of travel medicine.  From crafting the ultimate travel medical kit to knowing when to panic about tha...